Multiple garment rack



April 1952 c. v. SMITH MULTIPLE GARMENT RACK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1949 INVENTOR CZ 705 V. -3M/777,

BY WWe f/QW ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 c. v. SMITH 2,593,356

' MULTIPLE GARMENT RACK Filed Oct. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR c4 MOE SM/TH, 45

BY r 49 WW1 ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 c. v. SMITH 2,593,356

MULTIPLE GARMENT RACK Filed Oct. 10, 1949 5 Sheets-Shqet s INVENTOR Clyde Smith ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1952 MULTIPLE GARMENT RACK Clyde V. Smith, Los Angelcs, Calif.

Application October 10, 1949, Serial No. 120,448

3 Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers, and

has for its object the provision of a novel rack which will accommodate a number of separate articles of clothing.

Another object of my present invention is to I provide a garment rack wherein the garment supporting arms are inclined with respect to the connecting frame in order to hold the articles of clothing in such a manner as to prevent wrinkling thereof, and to insure the retention of the natural shape of the wearing apparel. These angularly presented cross arms further permit all of the garments to rest on the same side of the rack.

.A further object of the invention is the provision of a clothing rack which will accommodate a variety of garments such as coats, shirts, trousers. skirts, etc.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple garment rack which may be rotated about one end to a horizontal position to enable easy removal of individual garments.

Another object is to provide a multiple garment rack which may be collapsed or disassembled to present a compact clothing hanger for travel use.

.a simplicity of design that permits economical manufacture. Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hanger embodying the basic design of my multiple garment rack.

Figure 2 is a side view of my multiple garment rack in use, and inculdes a diagrammatic representation of the rack raised to a substantially horizontal position.

- Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of the multiple garment rack showing various modifications of the garment supporting cross arms.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified "form of a swivel hook which may be used in con- -nectlon with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a means for connecting individual cross arms of a collapsible multiple garment rack.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of connecting a cross arm tothe vertical back rod of the rack.

Figure 7 is a, perspective view showing another modification of the connecting means between a cross arm and the vertical back rod of the garment rack. 1

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a garment rack embodying the modified connecting means-shown in Figure 7. y I

Similar reference characters in the serveral figures represent similar parts.

Heretofore various attempts to provide a clothing rack which would efficiently accommodate a number of individual articles of clothing have proved completely inadequate in that the individual pieces of wearing apparel invariably become wrinkled or out of shape and the same are extremely difiicult to remove from a series of garments. In answer to the many existing problems which have arisen in regard to the storing of clothing in a conventional clothes closet, I have devised a means whereby any type of wearing apparel may be accommodated without wrinkling or creasing and may be readily removed from a group of superimposed garments. By providing this means I have afforded the housewife of a method of completely utilizing the valuable space in a clothes closet, and at the same time preserving each article of clothing in a state of neat appearance.

While there are many shapes and designs incorporated in the various modifications which I have devised for use in my multiple garment rack, the basic structure 'of the rack takes the form which is substantially shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The rack shown in Figure 1 ,is primarily designed for the accommodation of shirts, blouses and coats,v and consists of a vertical back rod Ill having at the upper end thereof a conventional hook portion I I, such as found on the single clothes hanger in common use today. The lower or free end of rod III is bent back upon the rod itself to form a U-shaped handle [2, the purpose of which will be later explained in greater detail.

Attached on a longitudinal line along the periphery of rod I0 I provide a series of garment holding cross arms generally designated as I3. As best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the planes of the cross arms l3 lie at an angle of approximately 45 with the vertical plane of rod member l0. Each arm'has a neck portion consisting of a horizontal section I4 and inclined sides l5. The horizontal portion M of the neck is attached to rod l preferably by welding and as previously mentioned is afiixed in such a manner as to present the 45 inclination betweenthe plane of the cross arm and the vertical plane of rod ID.

The horizontal extensions l'ii of the cross arms are given the general shape of the shoulder of a garment, and have on the outer ends thereof, an enlarged loop I? which takes the shape of that part of a shirt or coat. where the. shoulder and sleeve elements unite. This provides a more natural base for the garment and prevents the same from assuming an irregular shape when hung.

upon a rack for a long period of time.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the angular. relation 7 arms in the angular position shown in Fig-ure 2-, l have accomplished a means whereby anumberof shirts or coats may be hung in'substantiallyithe same vertical plane, each garment resting individually on the rack and having a free area for the collar thereof thereby obviating any possible wrinkling of one garment'byanothr/ In order to prevent inconvenience to the user of the garment rack, and also to prevent wrinkling to the shirt or other garment, mymultiple garment rack may be grasped-by the handle portion I Z and rotatedaboutthe upper hook H in such a manner as to permit eaea article of clothing 't o hang in a; plane substantially normal to the plane of the raised ra'ck; and 'the'reby be completely free of all other garmentscarried by the rack so; that each may be 'selectively; removed without interfering with "the properpositioning ofadjacent articles. l While- I have shown hook- H as lyingin the generalplane'with the restof the rack; it has, nevertheless been found quite convenientto have the free end I -l 5 of the hook; twisted to one" side at-approximately a 45 i angle from theplarie of the hanger; since" such formation-permits a slight twisting of the garmentr-ack, makingthe lifting of m same. to a horizontal position; more easily accomplished the twisted ends; retain the grasp 'on the "clothes rod A further possibility o f accomplishing this end -lies i1i theprovision of-a swivel connection between hook l-l "and the-vertical structure I 0; modificationssof which will-be more fully explained by reference to Figures 3 and 4- in' the drawings.

As previously stated, Figure 1- discloses: the basic structure which I. have;incorporated into my multiple garment rack such structurebeing substantiallya plurality-of individual cross arms lying in planes inclined to the plane of thewertical supporting structures With thisbasic structure in mind it willbeseen that anumber of Y modified forms of I the garment supporting cross arms and thevertical connecting means maybe devisedin order towa'ccommodate lalharticles of clothing which are customarily stored in the household closet.'

In' Ffig ure 3- there is' shown amultiple garment rack which incorporates modifle'd crossarms to accomplish the'above purposes. This-rack conr sists of a vertical connecting membernl B tumen-is in this form of the invention the upper or free end 20 of each bar I9 is bent inwardly until it lies at a right angle to its supporting bar '19. Each of these horizontally disposed ends is formed with a curve or bend 2| at the center thereof, these bends cooperating to form an eyelet. A hook 2 2 which suspends the garment rack from the horizontal rod in a clothes closet contains an enlargement 23 on its lower; end, which acts as a retaining means for holding the hook in connection with the body of the garment rack,

and at the same time the enlargement 23pmvides. a, bearing surface to support the Weight of the rack.

It will be seen that this arrangement in reality amounts to a swivel structure which allows the main portion of the multiple garment rack to be rotated at will, while the hook 22 remains engaged with the horizontal rod in the closet. This feature not only. permits the; free inspection. of the garments on the rack, but also. permits the rackto be readily raised to its horizontal; position for removal of an individual garment. The lower end: 24 of the. connecting frame serves as a handle for the rotation of' the rack.

V The garment rack shown in Fig; 3 ofrthe-drawings contains three. modifications of cross; arms,- it being understood: that any. combination of these arms may be used. in the manufacture. of the. device. The: upper arm consists; of; two individual: sections 25 and 26. welded: together; at points 21 and-28: to provide a rigid: structure One side 29 of section 25 has formed centrally thereof a neck portion 3llecompr-ising a, curyedlip which is welded to the vertical'rods I9 i'n.such;a manner as to insurean angle-of, approximately 45 between the plane of thecrossjarm-iandi-the plane of the rods Ill. The free ends3l of section 25. extend inwardly, andhave projections-Jon the ends: thereof, these-projections being v bent; upwardly to form additionalhooks or hanging-elementsfor small articles of clothing, if such-e use be desired. Each end of'section 2.6: is. reversely bent; to form a gripper'finger- 32 whichcooperates with the. horizontal: rod 33 to, provide a;=,.c.on-

venient: means for; grasping trousers: or a; skirttherebetween. Theend 3420f eachgripper-finger is bent backwardly ontheifinger-toforma blunt end in .order; to prevent snaggingeofithez clothing by the sharp projecting ends of the finger: memher.

The intermediate cross. arm shownlinFig, 3 and generally designated as 35, consistsbasically of an endless single strand wirebody portion= hav ing aihorizontal base 36andarcuate. reentrant sections 31 betweenewhich is formed; a jutting rectangular neck 38. Thehecle 38;;is welded; in a mannersimilar to neck portion: 30 previously describedin connection with the :upper cross-arm 25. At each end of the base 36 there is weldedat'39. on the upper. periphery thereof, a..U+sh1aped clip Ml having substantially parallel fingers fl; the free ends of which extendttoward theicenter of the cross arm. These free ends haveil'oops M formed thereon for theusamei purpose as. finger loops 34 abovedescribed; From-.Figure-Bdt will be seen that r the. inwardly projectingsfingers: 4 I respectively cooperate with the base wire 362130 forma grasping means inwhich trousersoriskirts may be hung.

The bottom cross. arm which L-have show nsin Fig. 3 and have generallydesignated bythereference numeral 431: has. aneck portion-Ahand lateral extensions 45 similaritoithoseusedinzcona 50 and a free end loop 5| formed thereon. A H

major addition to this modification lies in the fact that I have encircled each extension 45 with an open-coil spiral 52. This spiral extends substantially from the end loop 46 to the juncture between extension 45 and neck portion 44, the primary purpose of each spiral being to more closely simulate the roundness of the human shoulder in order to prevent narrow ridges from forming in the shoulder portion of the garment when hung upon the cross arm. It is to be understood that the diameter of spiral 52 may be made in accordance with the type garment to be hung upon the rack and also in accordance with the weight of the individual garment.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings it will be seen that I have shown a modified form of a swivel hook which may be used with the present garment rack. In this modification the free ends of parallel vertical rods l9 extend inwardly and upwardly to form tabs upon which a collar 53 may be rigidly secured as by welding. Collar 53 has an aperture 54 in the upper face thereof, this aperture being adapted to receive the vertical stem 55 of the hook. The enlargement 23 of the hook acts as a bearing through which the weight of the garment hanger and the garments thereon is transmitted through the collar 53 to the hook.

While I have previously described the various cross arms as being attached to the vertical support by a permanent method, such as welding, it

is nevertheless my intent to design my present garment rack in such a manner as to make the same capable of being collapsed or disassembled so that the entire device may be compactly stored in a suit-case or other traveling appliance. To this end I have shown in Fig. 5 the neck portions 56 and '51 of successive cross arms as being formed with elongated vertical extensions '58 and 59.

Each pair of vertical extensions is constructed similarly to the extensions formed on neck 56 which pass downwardly through a cylindrical sleeve 60 and are attached at their free ends to a lower sleeve 6|, such attachment being preferably by welding. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that since each sleeve is rigidly secured to one pair of vertical extensions while being movable with respect to the adjacent vertical extensions, the series of cross arms may be collapsed into close proximity with each other.

In order to provide the connecting means shown in Fig. 6, a vertical support rod 62 is formed from hollow tubing and contains a recess in one side thereof, said recess having tapered sides 63 and a horizontal base 64. The free ends 65 of the neck member 65 are bent downwardly and form a lip which is insertable into the hollow tubing by means of the aforementioned side recess. By using this modified form of connection the garment supporting cross arms may be completely removed from the vertical support rod 62 of the garment rack and the entire assembly may be placed in a small area in a traveling bag.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of the connection between the vertical support rod and each cross arm. The vertical rod 61 has threaded thereon a plurality of rings 68 which are welded in pairs in spaced relation throughout the length of the rod. I Since the central apertures in the rings are of greater diameter than rod 61, a free space is left to allow the insertion of a lip 69 formed by the converging sides of the neck portion 1 ll carried by the garment supporting cross arm.

As will be seen in Fig. 7, each pair of rings constitutes a receiving sleeve for the downwardly projecting tongue 69 and thereby suspends the cross arm in position while the garment rack is being used. When it is desired to disassemble the rack the vertical rod 61 in the cross arm may be separated by merely lifting neck portion 10 of the cross arm upwardly to disengage tongue 69 from its pair of holding rings.

Figure 8 shows a garment rack having the modified form of connections between the vertical support rod and each cross arm, as illustrated in Figure'l. As shown, the cross arms 15, and each have a lip 69 formed by converging sides of a neck portion 10 which is received by two spaced rings 68. The rings are welded to rod 61, in pairs. As shown, cross arms 15 and 95 are constructed similar to cross arm 25 of Figure 3. Cross arm 85 is similar in construction to cross arm 35 of Figure 3.

From the foregoing description of the present invention it will be seen that I have devised a novel garment rack which is so designed as to efliciently accommodate numerous and varied articles of clothing, suspending the same in a vertical position so that they occupy substantially the same area in a clothes closet. This rack not only conserves valuable storing space within a closet, but also provides a means whereby articles of neatly finished clothing, such as mens shirts, or women's blouses, may be suspended in such a manner as to obviate the possibility of unsightly creasing or wrinkling.

This device is completely acceptable to the modern housewife and accomplishes with a single unit the various functions now required by cumbersome and inadequate individual clothes hangers.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that variation in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment rack comprising a vertical support, a plurality of transverse hanger members having projecting neck portions thereon connected to said support in vertical spaced relation to each other, arms extending outwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of each neck portion, a horizontal bar having a central portion thereof connecting the lower ends of the arms, the exterior portions of the bar of at least one of said hanger members being bent back upon the central portion at said lower ends of the arms and extending in juxtaposition with the central portion toward the center of the transverse hanger member to a point short of said center and having an end portion extending laterally outwardly from said center, said neck portion, arms and horizontal bar lying in a plane inclined to the plane of said support.

2. A garment rack comprising a vertical support, a plurality of ring members carried by said support and spaced vertically thereon, a plurality of transverse hanger members having pro 

